Electric switch.



J. D. JOHNSON.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Buoys-1011 211,21) JAN. 2, 1912.

1 @%6,?Q6, Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

fnvenior rrnn sraag'srarnnfr ornron.

JOSEPH D. JOHNSON, OF BOSTON, MA SSAC I -IUSETTS.

ELECTRIC! swrrori.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec.10,1912.

in electric switches and particularly to that class known as snapswitches.

The object of the invention is to provide.

a cheap and efiicient indicator to be used in connect-ion with anelectric switch and which shall be capable of clearly indicating thecondition of the circuit controlled by said switch, as to whether thesame is opened or closed, and in a manner which shall be determinable bythe sense of touch when it is impossible to determine the same byobservation as would be the case when the circuit or light controlledthereby is in some obscure location relatively to the standpoint of theperson operating said switch.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts setforth in'the following specification and particularly pointed out in theclaims thereof.

Referring to the drawing: Figure 1 is a plan view of a well known formof snap switch embodying my invention a portion of tliecasing thereofbeing broken away and shown in section in order to more clearlyillustrate the invention. Fig. 2 is a section .partly in elevation taken011 line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 1s a plan view similar to Fig.

1 illustrating a vention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of thedrawing.

In the drawing 5 is the base having electric circuit terminals 6 and 7secured thereto. A rotatory switch member 8 is mounted upon a spindle 9and adapted to be intermittently rotated by a. handle 10 havingscrewthreaded engagement with the. oindle 9. The terminals 6 and 7 arelocated a opposite modified form of my insides of the spindle 9 and areadapted to be connected and disconnected by the switch member, 8. Therotation of said switch member may be controlled by any of thedevices-common to, snap switches and which will check the rotation ofsaid switch member 8 at the point of contact between said terminals andsaid rotatory switch member and also at a point in its rotationintermediate of said connecting point whereby said terminals will bedisconnected. 1

A casing 11 ,is provided to inclose said rotatory switch member and saidterminals and has a hole 12 through which the spindle 9 projects toengage the handle 10.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, 13 is an =indicator preferably formed ofinsulating material and secured to a fiat spring 14 which in turn ismounted upon the casing 11 at 15 preferably at the opposite side of saidcasing from said indicator. The spring 14, upon which the indicator 13is secured, is adapted to normally retain said indicator within thecasing 11 in the position illustrated indot-ted lines of Fig. 2 andduring the time when the terminals 6 and 7 are connected by the switchmember 8, but upon the rotation of said switch member from saidconnecting position to the disconnecting position thereof, said spring.14 is adapt ed to be moved upwardly against the action thereofpreferably by a cam 16 secured at the freeend of said spring by thescrew 17 which also connects the indicator 13 with said spring; thecontinued movement of said spring forcing said indicator through a hole20 in the casing 11 and into a position to protrude from said hole asillnstrated in Fig. 2. This position is retained during the period whensaid terminals are disconnected, thus leaving said indicator in aposition to be felt by the person operating said switch. Upon a furtherrotation of the handle 10 from the position just stated, the arms 18 and19 of said switch 8 will be rotated another stepwhich is usually aquarter turn of the member 8, whereupon the terminals 6 and 7 areconnected and the electric circuit controlled thereby completed; uponthis movement the cam 16 is released and the spring 14 allowed to returnto its normal position withdrawing the indicator 13 within said casing11, said position being indicated in dotted lines, in which it ofi'when'the arm 19 of the switch member v8 will engage said cam 16'andagain move said indicator to its protruding position.

Referring to Fig. 3 I have shown a modt fiedform of an indicatorconnected with a switch similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, butshowing an indicator 21 adapted to protrude through the side 22 of thecasing 11. The indicator 21 being preferably. secured at the free end ofa spring 23 which is attached to the side of said. casing 11. Acan 24 isalso secured to the, free end of the spring 23 and is adapted to benormally held within the path of the arms 18 and 19 of the rotatoryswitch member 8 and to be forced outwardly by the engagement therewithduring the rotation of said member 8. Thus the indicator will be movedalternately from a position within to a position to protrude from saidcasing by the continued r0- tation of said switch and indicate by saidpositions the condition of the current controlled by said :switch, saidcondition being determined in the dark by simply running, the fingersabout the casing and noting the position of said indicator relativelythereto.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire by LettersPatent to secure is:

1. An electric switch having, in combination, electric circuitterminals, a rotatory switch member, means adapted to rotate said switchmember to alternately connect and disconnect said terminals, a casingfor inclosing said terminals and said rotatory switch member, and anindicator mounted within said casing and adapted to be moved laterallythrough said casing by the rotation of said switch member from-aposition within into position to protrude from said casing, whereby theposition of said switch member may be indicated.

2. An electric switch having, in combination, electric circuitterminals,1 arotatory switch member, means adapted to rotate said switch member toalternately connect and disconnect said terminals a'cas'ing forinclosing said terminals and said rotatory switch member, an indicator,and a spring supported by said casing, carrying said indicator andnormally retaining the same with in said casing, said spring also beingadapt- ,ed to be actuated by the rotationoi said switch member, to movesaid indicator into a position to protrude from saidcasing.

An electric switch having, in combination, electric circuit terminals,9. rotatory switch member,-mea-ns adapted to rotate said switch memberto' alternately connect and disconnect saidterminals, a casing forinclosing'said terminals and said. rotatory switch memben' an indicatoradapted to be moved from a position'within, into a position-to protrudefrom said casing, a spring supported by said casingfor carrying saidindicator and adapted to normallyhold said indicator in one of saidpositions and means actuatedby the rotation of said switch memher formoving said indicator against the action of said spring, into the otherofsaid positions.

4:. An electric switch having, in combination, electric circuitterminals, 9, rotatory" switch member, means adapted to rotate saidswitch member to alternately connect and disconnect said terminals, acasing for inclosing said terminals and said rotatory switch'member, anindicator adapted to be moved from a position within, into a;position'to protrude from said casing, a spring supported by saidcasing, carrying said indica br and adapted to normally hold saidindicator in one of said positions and a cam adapted to be actuated bythe rotation of said switch member for moving said indicator into theother of said positions.

5. An electric switch having, in combination, electric circuitterminals, a rotatory switch member, means adapted to rotate said switchmember to alternately connect and disconnect said terminals, a casingfor inclosing said terminals and said; rotatory switch member and havinga hol e e'xtending therethrough, and an indicator mounted in said casingadapted tobe moved laterally through said hole by'thc terminaldisconnecting movement of said switch member,

from a position Within, into a position to protrude from said hole andmeans adapted to hold said indicator in said protr iding position whilesaid terminals are disconnected.

6. An electric switch having, in'combination, electric circuitterminals, a rotatory switch member, means adapted to rotate said switchmember to alternately connect and disconnect said terminals, acasing-for inclosing said terminals and said rotatory switch member,having a hole extending therethrough, an indicator adapted to be movedfrom a position within, into a position to protrude from said hole, aspring supported by said casing, carrying said in'-' dicator and adaptedto normally hold said indicator in one of said positions, and a camsecured to said spring adapted to be acted upon by said rotatory switchmember to move said indicator into the other of'smd positions. a

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence oftwo,,,subscribing witnesses. I

JOSEPH D. JOHNSON. Witnesses CHARLES S. Gooomc,

SYDNEY E. Terr.

